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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT/GDR 335"
COURSE NAME: "Twentieth Century Italian Women Writers"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Mauceri Trimnell
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 302 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will deal with the writings of Italian women writers (Aleramo, Deledda, Morante, Ginzburg, Banti, etc) of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their contribution has been crucial in the shaping of a recognizable, but still not fully acknowledged, "tradition" of women writers in Italy. Through the particular perspectives of distinguished Italian women writers, the course will explore versions of “feminine writing” and will introduce gender- and genre-related issues. Class discussion and assignments will examine themes such as the construction of female identity and the role played by women’s writings in the context of social and political emancipation for women in Italy. All work will be in Italian.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will focus on contemporary novels, short stories, plays and poems and examine the ways in which they address cultural, social and political issues in some crucial historical moments. The main topics we will explore include: the relationship between women's writing and the traditional literary canon, the construction of the female identity, the representation of the body and motherhood, and the role of the family and the community.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course students will gain:

· deeper knowledge of female Italian authors;

· understanding of the idea of ‘feminine writing’;

· enhancement of their writing and critical skills in Italian.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance & Class ParticipationRegular attendance is an essential component of the class. As this class will combine both lecture and discussion, students are expected to take an active part in class by joining in discussions and raising questions.10%
2 questionnairesTake-home questionnaires with 4-5 questions on the readings and class discussion.20%
Midterm ExamIn-class exam composed by 2-3 general questions, one close reading of a text, one short-essay.25 %
Final ExamIn class exam with 3-4 general questions, 2 critical interpretations of text, one short response paper30%
final paperA 5 page paper on one of the books discussed in class, chosen by the student and read in its entirety. Outline including bibliography is due by week 1215%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. 94-100 (A) 90-93 (A-)
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. 88-89 (B+) 84-87 (B) 80-83 (B-)
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. 78-79 (C+) 74-77 (C) 70-73 (C-)
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. 68-69 (D+) 64-67 (D) 60-63 (D-)
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. 0-59 (F)

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Regular attendance and active participation are essential component of the learning process.
Each unjustified absence (for whatever reason) beyond the second will incur a 3% penalty in the final-grade calculation.
If you should miss a class, please contact another student to find out what was covered that day so that you will be prepared for the next class. 

DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT:

- leave the room as it is distracting to the professor and to your classmates;
- answer your cell phone, read or send text messages; 
- use your computer for anything not related to the class (e.g. Facebook)

Make-ups: Individual arrangements for make-ups will be done only for students with medical emergencies or any other valid reasons. The Final Exam cannot be made up without approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

I Week

Lingua e genere

Michela Murgia, Stai zitta

L’esclusione delle donne dal canone letterario italiano

Il caso di Sibilla Aleramo

II Week

Sibilla Aleramo (cont.)

La donna nella storia del XX secolo

Le donne della resistenza

III Week

R. Viganò L’Agnese va a morire

IV Week

R. Viganò L’Agnese va a morire (cont.)

Presentazione del capitolo letto

First questionnaire due

V Week

La storia del movimento femminista italiano

Dacia Maraini

VI Week

Dacia Maraini Donna in guerra

VII Week

Presentazione del capitolo letto

La narrazione della violenza sulle donne

Serena Dandini, Ferite a morte

Il nuovo realismo

VIII Week

Melania Mazzucco, Un giorno perfetto

IX Week

Melania Mazzucco, Un giorno perfetto (cont.)

Presentazione del capitolo letto

X Week

La maternità

Alina Marazzi, baby blues

Esame in classe

XI Week

Il rapporto tra madre e figlia.

La percezione del corpo

Elena Ferrante, L’amore molesto

XII Week

Elena Ferrante, L’amore molesto (cont.)

Second questionnaire due

XIII Week

Elena Ferrante, L’amore molesto (cont.)

Presentazione del capitolo letto

XIV Week

Review